Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2000 15:00:41 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <200002062000.PAA27984@mattababy.mit.edu>
From: belmonte@mit.edu (Matthew Belmonte)
To: john_kerry@kerry.senate.gov
Subject: oppose military aid to Colombia

On Monday the Clinton Administration will present to Congress a proposal for a
$1.3 billion aid plan for Colombia, nominally aimed at combatting sources of
drug trafficking.  The vast majority of this aid is military.

The Colombian military is notorious for its abuses of human rights, and in
supplying military aid the United States would be indirectly furthering such
abuses.  As for the problem of drug abuse in this country, it would be much
more effectively addressed by aggressive treatment and intervention strategies.
The United States should begin addressing its problems at home, not in Central
America.

I hope you'll oppose military aid to Columbia, and support human rights
controls on any aid package that may be approved.